Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Mr Green on 26 February, 2017, 07:16:39 pm
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Can the collective YACF knowledge recomend some good cycle reads?
I am thinking more adventure/touring/Audax rather than racing/techie but anything that you really enjoyed is appreciated.
I am currently thoroughly enjoying Part 1. of Alastair Humphreys' book about his round the world trip. What I find most interesting is that it is not really about the bike or the physical challenge rather the mental toils. Anything in this ilk would be good.
Thanks,
Arthur :smug:
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I really enjoyed "One man and his bike" by Mike Carter (touring around the UK) and "Every Inch of the Way: My Bike Ride Around the World"
by Tom Bruce
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I have just finished Tim Moores latest offering "The cyclist who went out in the cold "very funny at times and also he gives an interesting perspective on the old Soviet block.
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I really enjoyed "One man and his bike" by Mike Carter (touring around the UK) and "Every Inch of the Way: My Bike Ride Around the World"
by Tom Bruce
+1 for Mike Carter's book, a really good read, packed full of interesting info but without taking anything too seriously.
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This year I enjoyed Emily Chappel's "What goes around" about her time as a London Cycle Courier. Some lovely writing about being a member of a special sub culture...
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I have just finished Tim Moores latest offering "The cyclist who went out in the cold "very funny at times and also he gives an interesting perspective on the old Soviet block.
Tim Moore's 'Gironimo' is also worth a read. It's a re-tracing of the 1914 Giro D'Italia route on a (sort of) contemporary bike. He's an entertaining travel author, who also manages to thread the story of that crazy race into his travelogue. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down.
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I have just finished Tim Moores latest offering "The cyclist who went out in the cold "very funny at times and also he gives an interesting perspective on the old Soviet block.
Tim Moore's 'Gironimo' is also worth a read. It's a re-tracing of the 1914 Giro D'Italia route on a (sort of) contemporary bike. He's an entertaining travel author, who also manages to thread the story of that crazy race into his travelogue. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down.
+1 reading the book put me off Italy a bit too
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This year I enjoyed Emily Chappel's "What goes around" about her time as a London Cycle Courier. Some lovely writing about being a member of a special sub culture...
On the same topic I recently read Cyclogeography - Journeys of a London bicycle courier (http://www.nottinghilleditions.com/books/cyclogeography-journeys-of-a-london-bicycle-courier/215) and thoroughly enjoyed it.
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There's a thread here (and a few others threads linked to within it) that may help:
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=97643.msg2031257#msg2031257
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One More Kilometre and We're in the Showers, by Tim Hilton, about the British racing scene in the '50s and '60s, mixed with the experiences of growing up in the Communist Party of GB and sleeping in haystacks.
A Bike Ride, by Anne Mustoe. Retired headmistress rides around the world, or bits of it. That was a good read.
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From my Kindle I've been through the following and not had a bad one yet...
Laid Back Around the World in 180 Days: Diary of a long bike ride
Barring Mechanicals - From London to Edinburgh and back, on a recumbent bicycle
The 10,000k Challenge: ...faffing across Europe on a bike!
A Virgin Discovers Long Distance Cycling: London Edinburgh London 2013
Hungry for Miles: Cycling across Europe on One Pound a Day
Eat, Sleep, Cycle: A Bike Ride Around the Coast of Britain
Land's End to John O'Groats - Cycling the Google Route
Point North and Pedal - Land's End to John O'Groats - Going Solo
Around the World on a Bicycle - Volume 1 From San Francisco to Teheran
Around the World on a Bicycle - Volume II From Teheran To Yokohama
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Road to valour is a good read, Gino Bartelli's biography, he smuggled papers for the Italian resistance while riding during the war
Dervla Murphey, any of her books are good, I like the early one's cycling through Afghanistan on the way to India ( might be full tilt or wheels within wheels)
One more KM and were in the showers is good and writes of cycling themes that I wouldn't have though about such as the origin of the Clarion Clubs
Anne Musto has written a couple of good books, they're very much of the Dervla Murphey touring genre
David Millar has written a couple of books which are worth a look even if racing isn't your thing.
Anything by Tim Moore
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I'm a bit biased but this isn't bad, and you don't have to go far for it, or pay any money.
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=100690.0 (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=100690.0)
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Yes.
And I'd pay Money for a wider selection of the Salvatore output, too.
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I remain unconvinced about the accuracy of the Road to Valour Bartali biography. The Race Against the Stasi is a much better book all round.
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One More Kilometre and We're in the Showers, by Tim Hilton,
Haven't read it, but that is one of my all-time favourite book titles.
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Thanks for the suggestions, plenty to look in to.
Particularly those who pointed out similar threads - I did do a search, but obviously not very well, as I this subject has obviouly come up before. That said, new books have come along since so perhaps still useful to have a round-up every so often.
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I second the recommendations for the works of Tim Moore, Emily Chappell and Mike Carter and would also include "Free Country" by George Mahood as an hilarious antidote to the world of "serious cycling". I've also just read "A Siberian Winter's Tale" by Helen Lloyd which I think is excellent!
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More at the Audax end of the scale I enjoyed Dave Barret's _The Year_; on the racier side (albeit at the back of the pack...) I thought Max Leonard's _Lanterne Rouge_ was excellent.
I've enjoyed Tim Moore's stuff a lot, but I wouldn't read his books back-to-back - I found them a bit samey.
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Anything by Arctic Jill... Helen's take on Siberia Africa also good reads.
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+1 for Race Against the Stasi and Tim Moore's stuff
The several Books by Steven Primrose-Smith (although not all of them are bike related)
Time Krabee 'The Rider' (about a race, but one of the best bits of writing irrespective of genre)
Andrew P Sykes 'Crossing Europe' and 'Crossing the Med'
Mike Carter 'One Man and His Bike'
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Another +1 for Race Against The Stasi. Fascinating for the history as much as for the cycling.
Also Lanterne Rouge by Max Leonard - all about the men who came last in the Tour and the strange kind of honour that bestows.
I quite enjoyed Chris Boardman's autobiography that came out last year. A very lightweight read and not much in it that you don't already know, but he's a likeable character.
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David Millar has written a couple of books which are worth a look even if racing isn't your thing.
Racing Through The Dark is a great insight into doping culture, as long as you can get over the whining self-justification (see also: The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton)
The Racer is terrible. Totally self-indulgent rubbish.
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^Wot e said. I preferred Hamilton's book tbh - though it's better if you've previously read It's not about the Bike as you can then have hours of fun spotting the euphemisms in Lance's book.
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Time Krabee 'The Rider' (about a race, but one of the best bits of writing irrespective of genre)
Agreed. That bit about his beautiful wrists! Not to mention the beautiful spectator. (For searching: the author is spelt Tim Krabbé.)
Another one I found unusually good is Paul Fournel’s Need for the Bike.
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An older book is Into the Remote Places by Ian Hibell, and although he's not a cyclist anything by Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is completely to the point when it comes to self-sufficiency, bloody-mindedness and borderline insanity. If you read his inspirational Mind Over Matter just before riding a PBP you'll go round without touching the sides.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mind-over-Matter-Antarctic-Continent/dp/0385312164/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mind-over-Matter-Antarctic-Continent/dp/0385312164/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=)
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A Bike Ride, by Anne Mustoe. Retired headmistress rides around the world, or bits of it. That was a good read.
+1 to this.
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A Bike Ride, by Anne Mustoe. Retired headmistress rides around the world, or bits of it. That was a good read.
+1 to this.
I read it and all my fears about reading a book written by a retired headmistress were confirmed. Would be good for those who enjoy lengthy explanations of world history.
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I would also add Flying Scotsman by Graeme Obree. If like me, you are only aware of Graeme Obree as a "bit of a character" who was fast on the track then this is a must read book. But do be warned, this book is an incredibly moving account of personal pain, despair and tragedy.
I had no idea...
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I would also add Flying Scotsman by Graeme Obree. If like me, you are only aware of Graeme Obree as a "bit of a character" who was fast on the track then this is a must read book. But do be warned, this book is an incredibly moving account of personal pain, despair and tragedy.
I had no idea...
I've also read ( Kindle only? ) Mrs Flying Scotsman ( by Mrs Obree! ) - Even more revealing accounts...
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I've also read ( Kindle only? ) Mrs Flying Scotsman ( by Mrs Obree! ) - Even more revealing accounts...
I daren't even begin to imagine... off to order now! Thanks :thumbsup:
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A Bike Ride, by Anne Mustoe. Retired headmistress rides around the world, or bits of it. That was a good read.
+1 to this.
I read it and all my fears about reading a book written by a retired headmistress were confirmed. Would be good for those who enjoy lengthy explanations of world history.
b 24 May 1933<>d 10 Nov 2009 Age76
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Mark Beaumont 3 books "The Man Who Cycled The World"; "The Man Who Cycled The Americas"; "Africa Solo".
Nick Crane "The Great Bicycle Adventure" 1987. Well before he presented Coast. (I even have a mention on p131 - derivation of my 3peaker hanger.)
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Just finished Cycling home From Siberia by Rob Lilwall. A very enjoyable read. He road some of his trip with Alastair Humphreys: it was interesting to hear a different account of the same expedition. I think they got a bit fed up with each other's company so parted along the route to cycle separately! I guess sharing a tent for four months in a Siberian winter would challenge many friendships.
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A Bike Ride, by Anne Mustoe. Retired headmistress rides around the world, or bits of it. That was a good read.
+1 to this.
I read it and all my fears about reading a book written by a retired headmistress were confirmed. Would be good for those who enjoy lengthy explanations of world history.
+1. I didn't finish it, I'm afraid (which is pretty rare).
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It's a well known one but 'Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle' by Dervla Murphy is a classic of any genre.
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This year I enjoyed Emily Chappel's "What goes around" about her time as a London Cycle Courier. Some lovely writing about being a member of a special sub culture...
On the same topic I recently read Cyclogeography - Journeys of a London bicycle courier (http://www.nottinghilleditions.com/books/cyclogeography-journeys-of-a-london-bicycle-courier/215) and thoroughly enjoyed it.
oooooh
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A Bike Ride, by Anne Mustoe. Retired headmistress rides around the world, or bits of it. That was a good read.
+1 to this.
I read it and all my fears about reading a book written by a retired headmistress were confirmed. Would be good for those who enjoy lengthy explanations of world history.
IME, books about cycling tours fall into two categories - those that really are about "cycling" and tend to place great emphasis on the authors' physical and mechanical prowess and those in which the bike is simply the means of transport and incidental to most of the narrative. I tend to prefer the latter, although if it's not already mentioned here, I'd recommend After The Goldrush by John Stuart Clark as a fine example of how the two can be balanced perfectly.
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I was a motorcyclist in the late 1970s, and I read 'Jupiter's Travels' by Ted Simon. That was very influnetial, and its legacy is a foundation that encourages travel. Lots of those travellers are on bicycles. Filters to find interesting work are handy.
Jupiter's Travellers are people who seek to understand the beauties, mysteries and tragedies of our world, and their place in it, through personal adventure. They are inspired and motivated to develop their observations and insights into something of value for the rest of the world to share, whatever their medium of expression might be.
To find out more about each of the Jupiter's Travellers being supported by the Foundation, visit their websites and follow them on Facebook and Twitter:
http://jupiterstravellers.org/jupiters-travellers/
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For anyone that enjoys Tim Krabbe's "The Rider". I can recommend Bert Wagendorp's "Ventoux".
I cannot describe it any better than this:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/jan/29/bert-wagendorp-novel-cycling-tour-de-france-mont-ventoux (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/jan/29/bert-wagendorp-novel-cycling-tour-de-france-mont-ventoux)
Like Krabbe's book, it invites re-reading and reveals additional detail each time.
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'Messengers' by Julian Sayarer. Tops 'The Rider' IMHO (slight exenger bias ;)). Great thread. I have downloaded 'Ventoux' and am looking forward to reading the previously mentioned courier books.
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For anyone that enjoys Tim Krabbe's "The Rider". I can recommend Bert Wagendorp's "Ventoux".
Thanks for this - will order once my to-read pile is a bit reduced
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A Bike Ride, by Anne Mustoe. Retired headmistress rides around the world, or bits of it. That was a good read.
+1 to this.
I read it and all my fears about reading a book written by a retired headmistress were confirmed. Would be good for those who enjoy lengthy explanations of world history.
... which is precisely why I enjoyed it!
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A Bike Ride, by Anne Mustoe. Retired headmistress rides around the world, or bits of it. That was a good read.
+1 to this.
I read it and all my fears about reading a book written by a retired headmistress were confirmed. Would be good for those who enjoy lengthy explanations of world history.
... which is precisely why I enjoyed it!
As a recreational cyclist I really wish I did have an interest in history and indeed a stomach for baked beans, but unfortunate experiences as a school boy resulted in the remedial class for history and a pathological fear of baked beans. Getting back on topic and following the recommendation by Frankie, I really enjoyed "Mind Over Matter" by Ranulph Fiennes.
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I'd recommend After The Goldrush by John Stuart Clark as a fine example of how the two can be balanced perfectly.
i've just finished this - thanks for the tip, Redlight - and learned loads!
Mostly I'm thinking I'll avoid cycling in the USA if I can help it...
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I think it's already been mentioned but.. I am half way through 'Full Tilt, Ireland to India with a Bicycle' by Durval Murphy. This classic is a proper old fashioned adventure book from a different time. To think of a single woman cycling through Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India in the sixties is quite something. I'm not sure you would pass customs with a .25 pistol these days either! A fascicnting read, and a real inspiration.
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A Corinthian Endeavour .... Paul Jones.
History of the National Hill Climb.
Couldn't put it down.
Don't like hills.
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Josie Dew's books about her cycling trips haven't been mentioned. You could choose one based on the area that most interests you - Europe, Japan, America etc.
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I would also add Flying Scotsman by Graeme Obree. If like me, you are only aware of Graeme Obree as a "bit of a character" who was fast on the track then this is a must read book. But do be warned, this book is an incredibly moving account of personal pain, despair and tragedy.
I had no idea...
The first book about cycling I ever read, lent to me by a colleague, I had no idea who obree was (being a foreign). I remember reading it thinking "this has been really well ghostwritten" ... the realising that he had clearly written it himself. I have yet to read a book about cycling that is as good or as well written, in fact it's a good book even if you don't care about cycling!
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No mention of Eileen Sheridan? Her achievements were amazing, breaking all the long-distance record as an amateur and then having to do it again when she turned professional. Her book "Wonder Wheels" is a lovely read.
I read Beryl Burton's "Personal Best" immediately afterwards, a different generation and a different approach.
Two authors are not known for their work about bicycles but both wrote stories about holiday rides, H.G. Wells's "Wheels of Chance, A Bicycling Idyll" and
Jerome K Jerome's "Three Men on the Bummel" .
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For anyone that enjoys Tim Krabbe's "The Rider". I can recommend Bert Wagendorp's "Ventoux".
I cannot describe it any better than this:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/jan/29/bert-wagendorp-novel-cycling-tour-de-france-mont-ventoux (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/jan/29/bert-wagendorp-novel-cycling-tour-de-france-mont-ventoux)
Like Krabbe's book, it invites re-reading and reveals additional detail each time.
I can add my endorsement for this book; it's really excellent.
Another one is Gold by Chris Cleeve. Like Ventoux, it's mostly about people, but bikes provide the setting. Both books are very poignant.
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bit late to the party...just spotted this thread, can suggest my world cycling book here: http://tinyurl.com/hgrr48g
interest to declare: all royalties to charity www.RoadPeace.org